Question

What kind of half-reaction is this: h2 → (2h ) 2e- A) Oxidation half-reaction

B) Reduction half-reaction
C) Both oxidation and reduction
D) Neither oxidation nor reduction

Answer 1

The reaction H2 → 2H+ + 2e- is an oxidation half-reaction because hydrogen is losing electrons, characteristic of oxidation. The hydrogen here acts as a reducing agent. This half-reaction would need to be combined with a reduction half-reaction for a complete redox reaction.

Step-by-step explanation:

The half-reaction H2 → 2H+ + 2e- is an example of an oxidation half-reaction. This process involves the loss of electrons, which is characteristic of oxidation. The hydrogen (H2) is being oxidized to hydrogen ions (H+), as it loses electrons and produces a positive charge. To balance this reaction, we show that two electrons (2e-) are released. Therefore, in this reaction, the hydrogen gas (H2) serves as the reducing agent, and the oxidizing agent would be the species in the overall reaction that gains these electrons.

This individual half-reaction must be coupled with a reduction half-reaction in a full redox process, where the total number of electrons lost in oxidation will be equal to the number gained in reduction. When the two half-reactions (oxidation and reduction) are combined, the overall chemical reaction is achieved with both mass and charge balanced.